Olympic Legacy

So it came and went; the greatest games. Seven years in the making, a month in the happening, and who knows how long in the lasting. And it is ‘legacy’ that has been the buzz word used throughout this summer to describe the long-term impact of London 2012 on this city and this country. But what will be the real lasting legacy?

Games-Makers created a friendly spirit

The friendly and happy vibe emanating through England’s capital city, partly courtesy of the much-lauded ‘Games-Makers’, was a key component of London 2012. Many asked could this be the start of a friendlier, happier London? I think not. London knows how to put on a smile when it wants to, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations showed that. But too often it just doesn’t want to. On the tube, stuck in the rush hour at a red signal, on a cold monday morning, people just can't be bothered to talk to each other. When a chance to celebrate and show-off Britain comes, we know how to do it and we do it in style. But just because we did it during the Olympic games, don’t expect ‘friendly London’ to become the norm. Friendliness isn’t the legacy of London 2012.

What about how the world's perception of us? Mitt Romney’s gaffe in doubting the games only served to highlight how successful London 2012 was. There is no doubt the world was highly impressed by the show we put on, and our sporting infrastructure (Sepp Blatter are you listening?.) But just because we put on what was quite frankly the greatest sporting event ever, I can't see Syria cosying up to us all of a sudden. We may have impressed the world, but better international perceptions aren't the real lasting legacy of London 2012.

Ennis claims Heptathlon glory

Perhaps the significant legacy from this summer will be what Seb Coe and his team aimed for all along; to ‘inspire a generation’. Sporting club memberships have quadrupled in the aftermath of the games. Stratford is the home to a new permanent Olympic-sized swimming pool, a big boost for swimming when you consider the UK has less pools than Paris alone. East London will also house a new Velo-park, a further enhancement to Cycling facilities, a sport that we excel at and continue to develop an interest in. Athletics has been inspired by the glorious victories of Farah, Ennis and Rutherford, whilst ‘lesser’ sports such as shooting, white-water kayaking and taekwondo have all been given a more prominent feature by GB’s gold medal successes.

More significant perhaps than the boost to individual sports however is the recognition of the important role of sport in this country, something these games have highlighted. This summer the country has experienced the emotional roller coaster that only sport can bring, the highs and lows, the tears and the shouts, the pain and the joy. It has united a country, and brought us together. It overrides all other emotions and inspires us all. Let us hope that this is the real legacy from London 2012, that we understand the important role in society sport has in bringing us together, in uniting a nation, in learning how to celebrate and grieve.

Games strap-line: 'Inspire a generation'

So yes, the real legacy of London 2012 is in sport itself. Oh, London knows how to celebrate and be friendly when it wants too, the world is probably rather impressed with us too, but the interest in sport is higher than ever, and the realisation of the key role of sport in society is being fully appreciated. So Mr. Cameron, please don’t sell off all these sports fields. Sport is important to this country, and the realisation of that is the real legacy of London 2012.